What is Family Initiative Residences, Inc.?

FIR    is    an    organization    composed    of    friends    and    family members   of   the   mentally   ill   and   dedicated   to   improving residential services for them.  

Why is There a Need for FIR?

Families    have    been    the    primary    caretakers    of    many    of their    ill    relatives.    As    the    family    care    providers    age,    the question    of,    “What    will    happen    to    my/our    mentally    ill child     when     I/we     are     no     longer     here?”     needs     to     be answered.    If    family    burdens    are    to    be    reduced,    the availability   of   appropriate   and   affordable   housing   in   the community is a necessity.

What are the Residents of FIR Like?

People    with    mental    illness    have    the    same    needs    as everyone   else.   They   need   a   place   to   meet   their   daily   living needs,     they     need     socialization,     education,     jobs     and support from those in their environment.

What Does a FIR House Look Like?

FIR   owns   and   staffs   a   sixteen   (16)   room   permitted   by   the State     of     Georgia     Department     of     Community     Health historic       home       located       in       an       attractive       Historic neighborhood    with    walking    access    to    downtown    shops. (Personal    Care    Home    or    Group    Home).    (PCH)        FIR    also leases     a     22     unit     apartment     complex     with     adjoining property     to     the     main     house.     (Independent     Housing Program)   (IHP)The   joining   of   the   two   properties   creates   a campus    atmosphere.    We    additionally    have    an    affiliate membership   for   residents   who   have   moved   on   to   more independent    living.    Presently,    there    are    26    men    and    9 women living at the FIR House.

What Services are Available for FIR Residents?

Assistance,   as   needed,   in   the   following   activities   of   daily living is provided: • Housekeeping and home/apartment maintenance skills, including use of laundry equipment • Meal planning, preparation and nutrition • Medication education • Financial management, including, as appropriate, techniques of consumer purchasing, banking and budgeting utilization of other community services and resources, such as public transportation, libraries, public health clinics, Social Security benefits and other appropriate services provided by public and private agencies. • Support in age-appropriate human growth, development of socially acceptable behaviors (including sexuality) and interpersonal skills and eliminating maladaptive behaviors. • Use of recreation and leisure time • Structure in daily living by helping residents find jobs, appropriate day treatment programs, volunteer jobs, schooling and recreation and leisure time activities.

What are the Resident’s Responsibilities?

• Take medications as prescribed by Doctor • Attend    day    treatment    program,    school,    vocational rehabilitation and/or work • Abide by the House rules • Maintain personal hygiene • Maintain personal living space • Keep personal linen and clothing clean • Share in weekly House cleaning • Preparation of one meal per week • Participate    in    some    leisure    activities    sponsored    by the House

Who Pays for FIR?

Each    resident    currently    pays    fees    for    room    and    board. This    covers    the    operating    expenses.    These    funds    come from   private   or   from   Social   Security   Disability   funds   and other     government     sources.     Each     family     is     asked,     as needed,   to   cover   unexpected   operating   expenses.   Funds are    also    solicited    from    many    other    sources    such    as friends,     relatives,     fraternal     organizations,     yard     sales, employee services organizations, craft fairs, etc.

How is FIR Staffed?

There    is    an    Executive    Director    who    is    responsible    for managing   the   organization   and   supervising   the   staff   and residents.     The     staff     consists     of     Managers,     Activity Directors   and   weekend   staff   persons.   All   personnel   give their   various   talents   in   support   of   the   mentally   ill.   They strive      to      provide      a      firm      structure,      a      moderately stimulating   and   emotionally   benign   environment   for   the ill    resident    while    minimizing    the    inevitable    stress    and constriction    on    the    other    ill    residents.    Such    housing enables   the   resident   to   be   productive   and   active   in   the community   and   to   live   as   normal   and   fulfilling   a   life   as possible under the circumstances.

What is Family Initiative Residences, Inc.?

FIR   is   an   organization   composed   of   friends   and   family   members   of   the   mentally   ill   and   dedicated   to   improving   residential services for them.  

Why is There a Need for FIR?

Families   have   been   the   primary   caretakers   of   many   of   their   ill   relatives.   As   the   family   care   providers   age,   the   question   of,   “What will   happen   to   my/our   mentally   ill   child   when   I/we   are   no   longer   here?”   needs   to   be   answered.   If   family   burdens   are   to   be reduced, the availability of appropriate and affordable housing in the community is a necessity.

What are the Residents of FIR Like?

People   with   mental   illness   have   the   same   needs   as   everyone   else.   They   need   a   place   to   meet   their   daily   living   needs,   they   need socialization, education, jobs and support from those in their environment.

What Does a FIR House Look Like?

FIR   owns   and   staffs   a   sixteen   (16)   room   permitted   by   the   State   of   Georgia   Department   of   Community   Health   historic   home located   in   an   attractive   Historic   neighborhood   with   walking   access   to   downtown   shops.   (Personal   Care   Home   or   Group   Home). (PCH)      FIR   also   leases   a   22   unit   apartment   complex   with   adjoining   property   to   the   main   house.   (Independent   Housing   Program) (IHP)The   joining   of   the   two   properties   creates   a   campus   atmosphere.   We   additionally   have   an   affiliate   membership   for   residents who have moved on to more independent living. Presently, there are 26 men and 9 women living at the FIR House.

What Services are Available for FIR Residents?

Assistance, as needed, in the following activities of daily living is provided: • Housekeeping and home/apartment maintenance skills, including use of laundry equipment • Meal planning, preparation and nutrition • Medication education • Financial management, including, as appropriate, techniques of consumer purchasing, banking and budgeting utilization of other community services and resources, such as public transportation, libraries, public health clinics, Social Security benefits and other appropriate services provided by public and private agencies. • Support in age-appropriate human growth, development of socially acceptable behaviors (including sexuality) and interpersonal skills and eliminating maladaptive behaviors. • Use of recreation and leisure time • Structure in daily living by helping residents find jobs, appropriate day treatment programs, volunteer jobs, schooling and recreation and leisure time activities.

What are the Resident’s Responsibilities?

• Take medications as prescribed by Doctor • Attend day treatment program, school, vocational rehabilitation and/or work • Abide by the House rules • Maintain personal hygiene • Maintain personal living space • Keep personal linen and clothing clean • Share in weekly House cleaning • Preparation of one meal per week • Participate in some leisure activities sponsored by the House

Who Pays for FIR?

Each   resident   currently   pays   fees   for   room   and   board.   This   covers   the   operating   expenses.   These   funds   come   from   private   or from   Social   Security   Disability   funds   and   other   government   sources.   Each   family   is   asked,   as   needed,   to   cover   unexpected operating   expenses.   Funds   are   also   solicited   from   many   other   sources   such   as   friends,   relatives,   fraternal   organizations,   yard sales, employee services organizations, craft fairs, etc.

How is FIR Staffed?

There   is   an   Executive   Director   who   is   responsible   for   managing   the   organization   and   supervising   the   staff   and   residents.   The staff   consists   of   Managers,   Activity   Directors   and   weekend   staff   persons.   All   personnel   give   their   various   talents   in   support   of the   mentally   ill.   They   strive   to   provide   a   firm   structure,   a   moderately   stimulating   and   emotionally   benign   environment   for   the   ill resident   while   minimizing   the   inevitable   stress   and   constriction   on   the   other   ill   residents.   Such   housing   enables   the   resident   to be productive and active in the community and to live as normal and fulfilling a life as possible under the circumstances.